Never ending battle of making your cars better

Automotive

For many individuals, the recent economic downturn has meant trying to cut costs in any way possible. One way people have tried to cut costs has been by learning trades to cut down on the money spent on car, home or appliance repairs. Specifically, people have been learning to change their own oil. Though there are advantages to changing your own oil like convenience, there are also disadvantages. Read below to see why it is better to have your oil changed by a professional as opposed to doing it yourself:Save your Time
Changing the oil in your car is no easy task, especially if you are not a trained professional. To change your own oil you need to first teach yourself to do it, and that takes time and effort. It is much simpler to take your car to a professional who has changed oil in cars before. To change the oil in your car by yourself you also need to set time aside for yourself in order to do it. This would require taking time out of your busy schedule, as opposed to being able to take your car in to a professional garage or dealership that has set hours and are always ready to receive your business. Most importantly, you also need special tools to change your own oil and you must also properly dispose of used oil. You cannot simply throw the oil in the trash or dump it in the back yard; you need to properly dispose of used oil. You will also need to purchase special tools to change your oil. Buying these tools and disposing of your used oil takes time and money.

Having your oil changed by professional garages and dealerships will save you time and money. These professionals are better equipped to change your oil because they are specially trained, they have the tools to do the job properly, and they have methods to dispose of your used oil. Attempting to change your own oil may seem more convenient but the hidden costs of purchasing tools, training yourself and disposing of waste add up. The general ease of allowing a professional will save you precious time, energy and money.

No Accountability for Mistakes
Mistakes can be made while changing your oil; they may be as simple as forgetting to put the oil cap back on, but even simple mistakes can be costly. If you change your oil by yourself then you will have to fix any mistakes made. And if you only know how to change oil then you may have to learn to fix these mistakes yourself or go to an outside source to help you.

If you bring your car to a professional then they are held responsible for any mistakes that they make while changing your oil. Though the chance of a mistake being made by professionals is often minimal, this accountability affords you the ease of mind knowing that if a mistake is made while your oil is being changed then it will be taken care of at no extra cost to you.

Paying for Mistakes
The extra cost that comes with mistakes being made by you while changing your car’s oil is also another reason why you should allow a professional to change your oil, as opposed to doing it yourself. If you make a mistake that damages your car while changing your oil, ultimately you will have to pay for that mistake in some way, shape or form. These extra costs can, most times, be more than the cost of getting your oil changed. Or worse they can be severe damages that may result in you needing to purchase a new vehicle altogether.

If a mistake is made while your oil is being changed by a professional then they will most often fix your vehicle at no extra cost, or help pay to have the vehicle fixed by another professional. These assurances allow you the luxury of knowing that your car will be taken care of.

Ultimately it is best to have your oil changed by a professional. Professional garages and dealerships have specially trained mechanics that are extremely knowledgeable about changing your cars oil and are willing to go the extra mile to ensure that your car will run smoothly.

Nobody likes to think about the dangers of driving a vehicle; however these situations are not always avoidable. To ensure you are ready should an emergency situation occur there are a few items you should always keep in your car.

The essentials
Jumper cables, an ice scraper and tire gauge are just a few of the essential items you should keep in your car in case of an emergency. Should your car ever breakdown, jumper cables will get you started again. If jumper cables don’t work, having a tow strap in your car will allow you to attach the front of your car to the hitch of another car while it drives you to safety. However, both of these options require a second car and if you are stranded in the middle of nowhere, they will be of no help to you. Backup power, such as a portable power-pack eliminates the need for another car to jumpstart you. If you live in a cold weather area, ice scrapers are a must, even for daily use. They remove ice and snow from your windows and help improve visibility. However in cold weather that may not be enough and an auto heater or auto defroster may want to be considered. This machine plugs into your vehicle’s 12-volt power port and will defrost your windows while heating up your car.

Extra equipment
Depending on how prepared you want to be, there are extra vehicle components and equipment you may want to have in handy during an emergency. It is always good to keep extra car fluids in your car should you run out. These fluids include motor oil, wiper fluid and antifreeze. Make sure you know how to refill your car with these fluids, so you do not cause any damage to your vehicle. For quick fixes, many auto stores sell coolant repair kits and tape to patch up any holes in your hoses and keeping a toolset in your car will allow you to tighten any loose screws and bolts. If it’s dark keeping a flashlight in the car will help in looking under the hood or undercarriage of your car. Just remember to have extra batteries and a bulb available. Folding shovels are available to fit in your trunk and can be used to dig yourself out of muddy or icy situations. For extreme circumstances a fire extinguisher and life hammer are two small items that could be the difference between life and death.

Others
One of the most important things you can have with you during an emergency is a cell phone. Make sure your cell phone is charged when you leave the house, or leave a car charger in your car. Some areas have limited service and may not give the dispatcher your location and phone number so make sure to mention these when you place your phone call. Other items that may be useful should you become stranded are non-perishable food, water bottles, warm blankets and a first aid kit.

There are pre-made kits you can buy that include some of the items listed above, but it is a perfect fit for your situation we recommend making the kit yourself. When preparing your kit, always take into consideration the weather you will be driving in, the distance of your trip and the condition of your vehicle. That way should an emergency arise, you will be fully prepared.

Even if you aren’t paying to get your vehicle cleaned, you still want it done the right way. If you decide to detail your car by yourself instead of paying someone else to do it, you need to spend a little time “learning the ropes” before cleaning your car. The reason I recommend learning your way around the detailing world first is because you don’t want to end up causing damage to your vehicle by using the wrong solutions, equipment, or materials. So to help you get started here is a little process that I recommend you follow as you move towards cleaning your vehicle.

Step 1. Do some research.

In order to do a good job in anything it is important to know exactly what you are doing. You want to know how to do it correctly so you don’t mess anything up. Learn about what the right things to use on each part of your vehicle and what they wrong things to use are. Make sure that you are following people who are doing what you want to do. For example, if they are polishing their car and the works and you are just looking to wax it then don’t waste time with the polishing part if that isn’t going to help you at all. Adjust what you should do according to the type of vehicle you have. If they are talking about cleaning cloth seats and you have leather seats then that is completely irrelevant to you so don’t worry about it.

Step 2. Consult professionals.

In many cases if you really want to make sure that you are doing everything properly it is a best to talk to people who clean cars every day for a living. This will ensure that you doing everything the way that it should be done. They can give you tips on things to be careful of and the most common mistakes that are done while cleaning the vehicle. They might end up saving you a lot of money just by learning from them for a few minutes. If you are looking for someone else to clean your vehicle then make sure that they actually know how to do it and will make sure that it is done to the best of their ability. You will find too many detailers who will cut corners and won’t put much care into the cleaning of your vehicle.

Step 3. Use the proper equipment.

If you are doing it yourself or if someone is doing it for you, it doesn’t matter, the right equipment is a must. Too many times, the wrong equipment is used and the vehicle always ends up with hundreds of dollars in damages. It is better to just spend the extra money and get the right tools then using the same ones for different jobs and damaging the vehicle.

Step 4. Take your time.

Don’t rush your work. It is important to make sure that you are doing a thorough job. You also don’t want to scratch anything by rushing. Mistakes most commonly happen when someone is in a hurry to get something don’t and they make a mistake. I have seen mistakes on vehicles happen first hand and they ended up costing a lot of money to fix. For example, just the mistake of forgetting to wash the wash mitt off in the rinse bucket before getting more soap on it and putting it on the vehicle is a huge (and common) mistake. They didn’t rinse the mitt off and dirt was still on the mitt when the placed it back onto the vehicle and it caused very noticeable scratches in the clear coat. This was no cheap vehicle either. Let’s just say it was a couple thousand dollars to replace.

I hope this having this process helps you clean your vehicle safely and effectively.

The epitome of comfort is when you have an automobile which ferries you around town. You may find yourself comfortable or you may be in the doldrums and it all depends on the car service. One who has a business to take care of, will tell you how invaluable the possession of a car is to him or her and also to the business.

The ordinary person who does not move around as much will also find that having a good car service mechanic at hand saves him a lot. If you are commuting to work and cannot afford your own vehicle, you will need a dependable cab service. You will find in your neighborhood the cab service that people appreciate for its utility , value it for the economy and use it for its simplicity.

Check with the people in the locality for the services which are dependable.It is necessary to have a car pool driver who knows how to adjust to the wishes of many people since that is the key to success of the entire venture. It is the always the driver, the person who makes your day possible who will invariably fashion your day and it should be a careful choice.

Car service is required if you possess a car. Car owners are careful to see that their cars are not entrusted to some cheap garage hands, since it could be detrimental to the car. People who do not understand the mechanics of the car will need someone who is an expert at it to keep it running smoothly. There are instances when just changing a bolt would have saved you the cost of changing the entire engine. It need not be a clockwork arrangement with the garage but it should be periodic enough to save your car any blushes.

If your car is new, there is no need to worry. There are many people who keep their cars in good shape through their own expertise. One should check for the spark plugs, engine tuning, air filter, fan belt, tires, oil filter, fuel filter, engine oil, brake fluids, power-steering fluid, grease or any lubricants. You could also get a good and dependable car service to check it all for you.

Most car service organizations consider washers, door hinges, antifreeze, suspension spark plugs and exhaust as part of their normal routine. To be absolutely sure, one should check the seatbelts once a year at least. If there are any mechanical parts that you find unworthy or not in peak operating condition, you should get them replaced.

Many car owners would only stop by the garage if they wanted the battery recharged. Keep the maintenance schedules on track and your wheels are sure to keep on turning in tune with you. The best thing to do when you are visiting a new place would be to go with cab service organizations. Many modern cabs have GPS and satellite navigation installed and so one has minimum need for navigational instructions. Trust the car service agency to provide you the tour of the place with frills attached. Vacations need expert guides and if you ask you shall receive from the tour drivers themselves.

Not many subjects can stir up as much emotion as talk about the environment. And when it comes to electric cars and their impact on the environment, there are as many opinions as there are species of birds. Here is a brief explanation of how electric cars can impact the environment, as well as how combustion engine cars compare with them.

Enthusiasts of electric cars are quick to point out that their cars do not emit any pollution at all, while another group will direct your attention to the power stations that are coal fired (which generate the electricity for the electric cars. These groups may have a point, which is considered separately without the bigger picture. Hence, the relative merits are not fairly assessed, and neither are the different technologies and vehicle types compared and gauged.

The European Commission has set the standard for measuring car emissions based on the amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted from the car’s exhaust, measured in grams of CO2 for every kilometer (CO2 g/km). This is a “tank to wheel” measurement, where the emission is measured from the moment the fuel is pumped into the tank until the energy is used.

This measurement gives electric cars the upper hand, as they do not emit carbon dioxide, but this measurement is not measuring any type of cars’ true carbon footprint, electric or combustion engine. The true carbon footprint can be measured accurately only if the whole process of extraction, refining and transportation of the oil is included. This second option of measurement is the “well to wheel” measurement. It gives a better and truer comparison between the different types of cars – i.e., electric and combustion engine. Hence, one must compute the “well to wheel” figures on both the oil and the electricity.

You will need to consider the following measurements when comparing the combustion engine to the electric car’s impact on the environment:

• Air pollution
• Fuel economy
• Impact of batteries on the environment
• The process of energy production and transportation of combustion engines and electricity fuels
• The process of manufacturing and recycling of the vehicle

No matter what you think about climate change, it is a fact that there is excessive pollution occurring in many towns and cities across the globe. Germany is estimated to have more than 65,000 people dying prematurely each year due to over-pollution, and many European countries experience a lowered life expectancy, from 9 months to 1-2 years earlier than expected.

It is estimated that worldwide, two million people die each year due to over-pollution with tens of millions suffering from illnesses related to pollution, such as lung and heart diseases, breathing difficulties and chest pains. Globally, air pollution is recognized by medical authorities to be a primary public health issue, besides being an environmental issue.

Transportation is blamed for a good majority of air pollution. Scientists, policy makers, politicians and others who are concerned about traffic pollution being the main issue list the harmful effects and reasons for their targeted concern:
• Global, industrial and domestic sources of pollution are making progress over time while traffic pollution globally is going from bad to worse (10)
• Particulate matters (tiny particles of toxic materials) from vehicle exhaust are very dangerous if breathed in, penetrating deeply into the lungs and bloodstream and potentially damaging the internal organs

While transportation emissions may be a major contributing factor, it is not the only cause of air pollution. Even homes and many types of industries can be linked to air pollution, and these causes must be addressed before real and lasting change can be realized.

The first advantage of getting the dents on your car repaired is to enhance the exterior look of your car. If you leave the dents without getting them removed, your car is bent to become old looking and also begins to look like a car of lower quality.

The next big advantage of getting the dents on the car repaired is to show the world that your car is a wonderful vehicle with elegant and good looks and the resale value of your car is bound to increase if you decide on selling it off. Just repair the dents on the car and see how the resale value improves!

Repair the dents on your car to maintain the exterior look of your vehicle; if left unattended the metal at the place where the dents appeared would get exposed and if you happen to live near the seacoast it might begin to rust at this point weakening the body of the car.

I am sure you or no one for that matter would like to drive a car with ugly dents all over; all of us would like to own cars that look good and attractive. So go repair dents on your car through paintless dent repair services offered these days that is much more affordable than the conservative techniques of removing the dents and then painting the whole vehicle.

PDR or paintless dent removal is a relatively new concept that is fast becoming popular owing to the ease of removing dents in a quick manner and being a low cost method too.

But remember not all dents qualify for PDR; your car has to be inspected by a qualified person to ensure that they can be repaired using the PDR method.

Paintless dent removal is most preferred to repair dents on cars since it is a simple technique and does not require major jobs like removing the door panels or re painting the vehicle after the job is done.

PDR is a technique that does not require much time to repair dents on cars; you do not require leaving your car in the garage for a day or two and then coming to take back the repaired car.

This offers you a hassle free experience of not having to hitch rides to and from the office while your vehicle is in the garage getting repaired or painted.

So don’t ignore the dents on your car, get them repaired as soon as possible and protect the exteriors of your car to make it look like new for longer periods. Don’t allow ugly dents ruin the appearance of your car; get a great mechanic to repair dents in cars without wasting any further time.

And you can count yourself lucky if the dents are on the doors panels or on the fenders that are more accessible and where the wonderful technique of PDR can be applied to remove the dents.

You have I am sure understood the negative aspects that you are bound to face by neglecting dents on your car; so in the interest of your vehicle repair dents on car as soon as possible to avoid corrosion due to rusting of the iron that is beneath the paint.

These days people use their cars as floating living rooms and dining rooms as they drive around. This means that all kinds of things can get spilled on a car’s upholstery. When this happens, you’ve probably wondered how to clean car upholstery. Once you know how to clean car upholstery, you’ll enjoy your travels more.

Here are ideas on dealing with some of the most common problems. Using these simple tips will show you how to clean car upholstery to your satisfaction. Note that these techniques are for use on cloth upholstery. Other methods are needed for leather.

Removing common stains

All that eating and drinking in the car can result in stains from liquids. The first step is to blot the spill and absorb all excess liquid. Then apply an upholstery cleaner available from your local auto parts store. Spray a small amount of cleaner on your car upholstery and wait a few minutes. Scrub the stain a little with an old tooth brush. Then dry the soiled area with a clean cloth. Repeat until you no longer see the stain and the cloth you are using to dry the area shows no discoloration. If the stain is small, shaving cream may do the trick instead of commercial cleaner.

If ink stains your car seat, do not rub the stain as this can smear the ink and make the stain larger. Start by carefully blotting the area to remove any excess ink. Spray a small amount of hairspray on the stain and let it sit a few minutes. Take clean dry towels and wipe the area. Repeat as needed but use the minimum amount of cleaner necessary. Change your wiping cloths frequently to prevent soiling the material from cross contamination. Rubbing alcohol can also be used to clean ink on car upholstery. Dip a cotton swab into the alcohol and apply it only on the actual ink stained area. Then wipe with a clean cloth as above.
To remove lipstick stains from your car’s upholstery, try rubbing gently with a white, non-gel toothpaste. Then wipe clean with a damp cloth.

If there is a battery acid stain, rub a paste of baking soda and water into the spot right away. Leave this on for two hours and then wipe it off with a damp cloth. Repeat if any stain remains. Any remaining residue can be cleaned with a commercial upholstery cleaner. As an alternative, you can make your own cleaner by mixing 1/2 teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent in a quart of warm water. Beat this with a mixer and clean the upholstery using only the suds. Work on a small area at a time, overlapping areas to avoid spotting. Change the rinse water frequently to keep it clean. Let dry thoroughly.

To remove a gasoline stain from your car’s interior, treat the stain with a mixture of one teaspoon each of vinegar and mild dish detergent in a quart of warm water. The vinegar will remove the odor while the detergent does the cleaning. Let the area dry. If any spotting remains, you may need to repeat the process. If this does not seem to be working, try using dry cleaning solvent.

If you have children, they may play with crayons in the car and may get some on the upholstery. To remove crayon marks, first scrape the excess crayon off with a dull-edge knife or metal spoon. Spray with WD-40 and let stand a few minutes. Using a small, stiff bristled brush, work on the crayon stain and then wipe the area with paper towels. Respray with WD-40 and apply liquid dishwashing detergent on the sprayed area. Work this material in with the brush and then wipe the stain away with a damp sponge. If any stain remains, repeat the procedure.

To remove mold, mildew and their odor from upholstered auto seats, products with peroxide and detergents will restore the car interior. This both removes the stain and deactivates the odor. Simply spray a citrus cleaner product on the soiled area. Wait about five minutes for it to penetrate. Using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the area, pressing down firmly without rubbing for 30 seconds. Repeat this blotting process until the area is dry. If the stain or odor persists, repeat the process. As an alternative, you could create a cleaning mixture by combining 1/4 teaspoon of color safe bleach and 1/4 cup of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. With a clean cloth, gently rub the stain until it is gone. Rinse the area with clear, warm water and dry thoroughly.

Clean upholstery helps your car keep its value

By keeping your car upholstery clean not only will it look better, it will also last longer. Nice looking upholstery maintains the value of your car. If your upholstery is stained or damaged beyond cleaning, replacement seat covers are available for most cars and trucks. People who know how to clean car upholstery won’t have to go to the expense of buying those replacements since their cars’ interiors will look like they just came from the showroom.

My car is driving strangely and I think I have a flat tire… what sure I do?

First and foremost stay calm and get your vehicle to a safe place. Having a flat can be a trying time but remember you have to keep your passengers’ and your safety as a priority. Once you have achieved your primary goal of getting everyone out of harm’s way, then you can make the decision of who will replace the flat tire with the spare.

If you choose to “fix the flat” by putting on the spare, be logical and strategic with your decision-making. On the other hand, if you are going to rely on a towing company or roadside service provider, the garage that is going to fix or replace the flat is a great place to call first.

So, what should you consider when looking for a “safe place”? First, take into consideration the follow of traffic. The direction and speed of traffic should be your biggest concern when performing or having roadside service completed. Ultimately, you should try to be at a minimum of one car length or two car lanes away from the flow of traffic on a relative level location. Keep in mind this may mean you continue driving at a slow rate of speed on a flat tire.

Yes, move over to the right hand lane with your hazard lights on and drive on a flat. You are better to have driven on a flat tire than to pull over on a turn or a location where the shoulder (side of road) is too narrow to safely remove the flat and install the spare.

If you decide to remove the flat and install the spare yourself, you should confirm you have the inventory of tools required and the spare is adequate inflated before starting the task. You will need at least a jack, lug wrench and spare. Remember to loosen the lug nuts before “jacking up” the vehicle and place something (i.e., stone, piece of wood, etc) on both sides of the other tire on the same side as the flat. Also, if applicable, ask passenger(s) in the vehicle to remain seated and not to move around while vehicle is up on the jack. The shifting of weight inside a vehicle can cause the vehicle to fall off the jack.

Your challenge to find a quality roadside service provider can be achieved by calling the garage or tire shop you will entrust to fix your flat tire. Most reputable garages have long standing relationships with reputable towing companies that offer roadside service. Also, your garage may have an account with the towing company and your roadside service charges can be placed on the repair bill for your vehicle. So, give your trusted neighborhood mechanic a call and ask for a recommendation.

So remember, first and foremost stay calm and get your vehicle to a safe place when you believe you have a flat tire. Having a flat can be a trying time but remember you have to keep your passengers and yourself safe. Once in a safe location, you can make the decision of who will replace the flat with the spare. If you choose to “fix the flat” by putting on the spare, please think logically and keep safety in mind. On the other hand, if you are going to rely on a roadside service provider, the garage that is going to fix or replace the flat is a great place to call and get a recommendation.

Care and maintenance of your vehicle is critical, especially if you drive frequently. However, a great number of people do not even know the basics of auto repair. To help you out, here are a list of tips to deal with the challenges of auto repair. Read on to ensure that fixing your car is much easier next time.

Pay attention to any red flags involving your auto repair technician. If you have trouble getting a straight answer out of them, (or if, even worse, they refuse to answer questions to your satisfaction) they probably aren’t the kind of people you want to work with. Run, don’t walk, to another mechanic.

You don’t always have to change your oil after 3,000 miles. This is an old adage that is commonly followed. Modern vehicles don’t need oil changes any less than each 5,000 miles it travels. Some vehicles can go 10,000 miles before needing one. Go with whatever is recommended by the manufacturer.

If you want to be sure to have an advocate on your side when you need your car serviced, consider joining the American Automobile Association or AAA. They will send out a tow truck if you break down and can help you find a reputable mechanic. Many auto shops offer discounts to AAA members, so it’s well worth the membership.

If you’re headlights are giving off dull light, they may just be dirty. Sometimes the road can create a greasy residue on the headlight. A good quality glass cleaner will help to clean them right up.

You can save yourself a great deal of money by repairing your burnt out head or tail lights yourself. It is simpler to do in certain vehicles, but it is much less expensive than hiring someone else to do it. Ask a friend if they’ll help you learn how its done.

You need your records available at all times. It’s wise to keep them in your glove compartment in case you need to go to a auto repair shop on the fly. Mechanics may want to see these records. They can diagnose issues quicker.

Many corrupt shops will change out your tires and put in older ones. They do this so that they’re able to make money from you being ignorant. Mark your tires so that you can check them later. After the repair is complete, check to see that the chalk is still on your tires.

Listen to all of the sounds made by your vehicle. When a car has issues, the noise it makes could be a good indication of what the problem is. When you are able to tell a mechanic about the sound your car is making, they can find the problem easier, saving you money.

Owning a car means you have the ultimate responsibility of keeping it in working order. Not everyone really knows how to find the best mechanic services in town, nor do they know how to actually perform the needed repairs by themselves. Refer back to this article so that you can keep your car running properly at all times.

Although we may not put much thought into it, driving or riding in an automobile is a rather risky thing to do. Not only do you have to be cautious with your own actions, you have to be on the look out for dangerous situations caused by other drivers. Other drivers are not the only hazard that we face on the roads, however. Debris on the road can cause an accident; so can weather conditions, or mechanical failure in the vehicle we are driving. Plus, there is the hazard of animals running across the road, pedestrians stepping into traffic, and many more hazards.

No matter what causes an accident, the result can be devastating. Whether injury or property damages, these are things that make life difficult, and none of use wants to face them. Not to mention, many people are killed on the roadways each year. The driver of a vehicle is not the only one at risk for being injured or killed in an accident. Passengers are also at risk, as well as pedestrians, bicyclists, and other by standers.

Whether you or a loved one has been involved in a serious or minor automobile accident, if you have suffered an injury, you may be entitled to compensation. To determine if your auto accident makes you eligible for compensation, contact an experience auto accident attorney immediately. An experienced attorney can help you compile evidence and make your case for compensation.

The compensation awarded in an auto accident will help the victim and his or her family cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other expenses incurred as a result of the accident. If the auto accident was a direct result of the negligence of another party, then you are more than likely owed compensation. Contacting an attorney is the first step in helping determine fault and liability. Once fault and liability have been determined, an attorney will be able to assist you in seeking the compensation you are owed.

It is important to select an attorney that know the motor vehicle laws and has experience with auto accident cases. Selecting an experienced attorney will help ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. Auto accidents can happen to any one, on any day, and unfortunately, accidents are not something we always get to plan ahead for. Contact a legal representative today to make sure you receive the compensation you are entitled to.